Courts / Ireland / Report

Sales exec who claimed colleague was using her LinkedIn account was unfairly dismised

Summary

Jane Burton, the sole Irish sales executive for Knights of Old Group, claimed her LinkedIn account was accessed by a colleague without her consent while she was laid off. She argued that the company's decision to terminate her employment as redundant was unfair. The Workplace Relations Commission found that Burton had been placed in a "pool of one" for redundancy purposes, despite the firm's claim that her role was redundant. The commission noted that the company was still expanding its Irish business and that Burton should have been pooled with other business‑development staff. The tribunal concluded that the dismissal did not meet the required criteria for redundancy and ordered the firm to pay €7,000 in redress to Burton for her financial losses. The decision was based on evidence that the company was still developing business in Ireland and that Burton's role was essential to that effort. The ruling upheld Burton's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sales exec who claimed colleague was using her LinkedIn account was unfairly dismised. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 26 March 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• 16 April 2020 Other
• 16 May Other
• 30 March 2020 Other
• 2023-02-02 Publication

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report